A Dynamic Security-dedicated Approach to Commercial Drone Vulnerabilities, Threat Vectors and Their Mitigation

With the proliferation of drones, society is witnessing novel integration of drone technology in various fields. As drone operation increases, so does their unique vulnerabilities. The applications of drones are boundless. Yet, the vulnerabilities that arise from the design and production phase are limiting their potential, thus, leading to cyber, physical and societal threats. Security-focused design is a fundamental requirement for any technology and the current security architecture for drones need to be re-defined. Therefore, this research paper proposes a conceptual process model for manufacturers that address risks from processes, people, policy and technology based on the elements of risk and vulnerability management. During analysis, the authors found that drone system vulnerabilities are the reflection of flaws in the design and manufacturing processes. Also, the authors agree that future work will be required to quantify exposures by working with manufacturers and regulators to establish a methodological approach. Overall, this research paper delivers a conceptual process model for a drone manufacturing system that can eliminate known threats and minimize unknown vulnerabilities.